Citizenship for Children Born to Iranian Mothers and Foreign Fathers

How Can My Child Obtain Iranian Citizenship? Everything You Need to Know About the New Nationality Law

One of the most pressing legal concerns for Iranian women married to foreign nationals has long been the citizenship status of their children. For decades, these children faced significant challenges in education, healthcare, travel, and legal identification due to their lack of Iranian citizenship. That changed with the 2019 law passed by the Iranian Parliament, which finally recognized the right of Iranian women to pass on their nationality to their children.

What Does the Law Say?

According to the Law on Determining Citizenship for Children Born to Iranian Mothers and Foreign Fathers (ratified on October 2, 2019) and its Executive Bylaw (May 2020):

Children born to Iranian mothers and non-Iranian fathers are entitled to Iranian nationality, provided:

The mother is Iranian

This is a full legal citizenship, not a conditional or honorary one. The child is considered a natural Iranian citizen with full civil rights.

Required Documents for Application

To initiate the application process, the following documents are generally required:

Iranian mother’s national ID card and birth certificate

Proof of marriage or relationship between mother and child

Identification documents of the foreign father (if available)

The child’s birth certificate

Completed application forms from the governor’s office or online portal

Background check clearance (no criminal or national security record)

️ Step-by-Step Process

Visit the governor’s office (ostandari) where the mother resides

Or submit your application through the official citizenship platform (being rolled out nationwide)

Documents are reviewed by the Ministry of Interior and national security agencies

Approval is issued and forwarded to the Civil Registry Office

The child receives an Iranian birth certificate (shenasnameh)